WOSU Classroom American Graduate

About American Graduate

The American Graduate initiative is public media’s long-term commitment, made possible by CPB, to help young people succeed in school, career and life.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) launched the American Graduate initiative in 2011 to address the nation’s dropout rate. Public media stations across the country forged community connections and innovative partnerships to help improve student outcomes—contributing to a substantial increase in the national high school graduation rate.

Six years after the launch, the graduation rate rose to an all-time high of 84 percent. The third phase of the initiative, American Graduate: Getting to Work begins in 2018 with CPB grants to 19 public media stations to help advance education and career readiness in their communities.

WOSU Public Media was awarded a two-year grant that started in 2018 to collaborate with local organizations, educational institutions and businesses to assess workforce challenges and opportunities, and production of content focused on the essential skills needed for students and workers to succeed in the job markets of today and tomorrow.

CPB gave the Ohio grantees a unique assignment. WOSU, CET/Cincinnati and Ideastream/Cleveland are working in partnership to create a state model for addressing the major issues of education and career readiness.

The Ohio grant was extended in 2020 for a third year.

Learn more at the national American Graduate website.